Benjamin Grant Weir was born at Springfield, Ohio, on July 25, 1891. He was graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, on June 12, 1914, on which date he was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry in the Regular Army.
SERVICE
He was first assigned to company duty with the 4th Infantry at Vera Cruz, Mexico, and Galveston, Brownsville, and San Benito, Texas, later becoming a student at the Signal Corps Aviation School, San Diego, California. In March 1917 he reported at Columbus, New Mexico, for duty with the 1st and 3rd Aero Squadrons, and moved with his organization to San Antonio, Texas. A few months later he became Secretary of the Observation School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and in March 1918 was made Director of the Observation School, Langley Field, Virginia. He was next assigned to the Plans Maintenance Section, Washington, D.C., as Assistant Chief Engineer.
In September 1919 he became Commandant of the Air Service Stockkeepers School at Fairfield, Ohio, later assuming command of the Air Intermediate Depot at Little Rock, Arkansas. In September 1922 he was assigned to the Philippine Islands, where he served as Commanding Officer of the 4th Composite Group at McKinley Field, Fort Mills, and Camp Nichols. Upon his return to the United States in 1924 he joined the 7th Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, and later served with that Division at Richards Field, Raytown, Missouri.
In August 1925 he became a student at the Army Industrial College, Washington, D.C., and in February 1926 proceeded to the New York District, New York City, as War Plans and Procurement Planning Representative. After serving as such for four years, he was enrolled as a student at the Air Corps Tactical School, Langley Field, Virginia, after which he became a student at the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, completing the two-year course in July 1932.
His next assignment took him to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was made Instructor of Tactics at the Infantry School, remaining there in his teaching capacity for four years. In September 1936, he left the United States for duty at Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, and after two years as Post, and later, Group Commander of the 16th Pursuit Group, he returned to the United States in December 1938, for assignment to March Field, Riverside, California. He served at March Field in various capacities, including Inspector of the 1st Wing, General Headquarters Air Force, Air Base Executive Officer, Commanding Officer of Base Headquarters and 4th Air Base Squadron, Commanding Officer of a Bomber Command and Base Command of the Fourth Air Force, Commanding Officer of the 9th Pursuit Wing, and eventually as commanding officer of the entire Air Base.
Between July 1942 and December 1943 he served as Air Corps Instructor and Liaison Officer at the Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia, after which he went overseas for duty as Air Inspector of the United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe. In January 1945 he was announced as Air Inspector, United States Strategical Air Forces in France. He returned to the United States in December 1945 and took command of the Rome Air Technical Service Command, New York, which position he held until his retirement from the Air Force on August 31, 1947.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Aircraft Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Cadet, U.S. Military Academy, March 1, 1910; Second Lieutenant, Infantry, June 12, 1914; First Lieutenant, Aviation Section Signal Corps, April 7, 1917; Captain, May 15, 1917; Major, Infantry, N.A., June 17, 1918, to February 27, 1920; transferred to Air Service, July 1, 1920; Major, July 1, 1920; discharged as Major and appointed Captain, December 18, 1922; Major, July 8, 1923; Lieutenant Colonel, December 1, 1935; Colonel (temporary), January 1, 1940; Colonel, A.U.S., June 26, 1941; Colonel, December 1, 1942; Brigadier General, A.U.S., January 4, 1945; terminated Brigadier General, A.U.S., March 5, 1946; Colonel, A.U.S., June 26, 1941; retired in the grade of Brigadier General, August 31, 1947.
DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, World War I Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal.